Derrick



1966 P. D. GERNHARDT ETAL 3,289,855

DERRICK 4 SheetsSheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 6, 1965 ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1966 P. D. GERNHARDT ETAL 3,289,855

DERRICK 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Jan. 6, 1965 I NVENTOR.

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PAUL D. BY CURTIS w.

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D 1966 P. D. GERNHARDT ETAL 3,289,855

DERRICK 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Jan. 6, 1965 INVENTOR.

PAUL o. GERNHARDTAL BY CURTIS W- VERRELL Zia/1.1

ATTORNEYS 1966 P. D. GERNHARDT ETAL 3,

DERRICK 4 Sheets-Sheet Original Filed Jan. 6, 1965 INVENTORL United States Patent 3,289,855 DERRICK Paul D. Gernhardt, Overland Park, Kans., and Curtis W. Verrell, Fairview Park, Ohio, assignors to The Ohio Brass Company, Mansfield, Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey Original application Jan. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 423,808. Divided and this application Dec. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 512,288

11 Claims. (Cl. 212-67) This invention relates in general to derricks, and more particularly to derrick structure which provides for rotation of the derrick in a generally horizontal plane about a generally vertical axis, and also provides for pivoting of the derrick in a generally vertical plane. The present application is a division of our copending application Serial No. 423,808, filed January 6, 1965, for Derrick.

An example of the environmental use of the derrick of the invention is the utility truck field wherein the derrick may be mounted on a vehicle, and which derrick may be adapted for handling and erecting various objects, such as for instance telephone or telegraph poles. The derrick may also be used to support and operate an earth boring auger, as well as its usual function of lifting. Such derrick being as aforementioned rotatable in generally horizontal plane about a generally vertical axis, and being pivotal in a generally vertical plane about a generally horizontally disposed axis, provides for convenient positioning of the derrick with respect to the vehicle, without necessitating continuous repositioning of the vehicle.

The present invention provides a novel structural arrangement for providing for the pivotal movement of the derrick boom in a generally vertical plane and about a generally horizontal axis, and for the swinging movement of the derrick boom in a generally horizontal plane about a generally vertical axis.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of derrick.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of derrick having a vertically swingable boom as well as a boom that is rotatable about a generally vertical axis, and embodying novel means for accomplishing such movement of the boom.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of derrick of the above type which utilizes a single reciprocal motor unit for actuating the derrick in a generally vertical plane, and with such motor unit being so arranged as to be in non-interfering relation with a vehicle superstructure on which the derrick is mounted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a derrick of vehicle, and illustrates an earth boring auger supported by the boom and disposed in storage position thereon;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, broken side elevational view of the derrick boom showing the mechanism for causing swinging movement of the derrick in a generally vertical plane, and about a generally horizontal extending axis;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the rearward end portion of the FIG. 2 derrick;

FIG. 4 is a rear end, elevational view taken generally along the plane of line 4-4 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the rear end of the derrick Patented Dec. 6, 1966 structure of FIGS. 2 to 4 with the boom having been removed;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view showing the mechanism for rotating the derrick in a generally horizontal plane about a generally vertical axis;

FIG. 7 is a sectional plan view taken along the plane of line 7-7 of FIG. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a sectional plan view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 9-9 of FIG. 8 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 10-10 of FIG. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 11-11 of FIG. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now again to the drawings, there is shown a wheeled utility vehicle 10 having a truck body including superstructure 100, which carries a movable derrick 12 thereon. The derrick boom 14 which maybe of the telescopic or extensible type, may be pivotally mounted as at 16 (FIG. 2) on a frame 18 for swinging movement in a generally vertical plane and about the generally horizontally extending axis 16.

The derrick boom may mount a sheave assembly 19 at its outer end, adapted for coaction with a cable 19a, for handling a load. Suitable means may be provided for selective retraction and extension of the boom, such means being, for instance, a reciprocal fluid powered motor unit 28 mounted interiorly of the boom.

An earth boring mechanism 22 may be supported on the boom and may be selectively coupleable to either the outer extendible section 24of the boom or to the inner section 24a of the boom. The arrangement for so accomplishing the latter may comprise a. collar-like tool supporting member 26 mounted on the extendible section of the boom, and which is adapted for pivotal connection to the earth boring tool. The supporting member is preferably of the type which is rotatable with respect to the boom in a direction transversely thereof so that the supporting member 26 and associated earth boring tool can be disposed beneath the boom for digging operations, or laterally to a side of the boom for storage. Fluid transmitting lines 27 may be provided on the boom for carrying actuating fluid to and from the fluid motor driven earth borer.

The aforementioned framework 18 for supporting the boom may comprise a fabricated, box-like base portion 28 (FIGS. 1 and 4) offset laterally to one side thereof (FIG. 4) and attached to a depending tubular stem portion 28a. Tubular portion 28a is adapted to be received in a rotatable relation in a stationary, hollow pedestal 30, in a manner to be hereinafter described. Side wall structure 32, 32a projects upwardly from base portion 28 and mounts the boom pivot 16 thereon, adjacent the upper portions thereof.

Pivoted as at 34 to side wall structure 32a of the frame 18 and pivoted at its other end, as at 36, to bracket 37 projecting laterally from the boom, is a reciprocal double acting fluid powered motor unit 38, which motor unit is adapted to pivot the boom in a generally vertical plane about the pivotal axis 16. The motor unit 38 is mounted high on the frame 18 and avoids interference with any of the body superstructure 10a of the vehicle, thus enabling the derrick to be conveniently mounted on most existing designs of vehicle bodies, without necessitating reconstruction or redesigning of such body.

In accordance with the invention, to aid in preventing twisting of the boom due to the offset relation of motor unit 38, there is provided a rod or bar 40 (FIGS.

2 and 3) which may be pivotally attached as at 42 to the boom bracket 37 and pivotally attached as at 44 to the frame 18 at pivot 16, outwardly of motor unit 38. This bar structure is disposed in relatively close proximity to the boom and to the boom actuating motor unit 38, and thus does not interfere with swinging or rotation of the boom about the generally vertical pedestal 30.

As aforementioned, the generally hollow pedestal 30 is mounted upon the truck body, and preferably adjacent a corner thereof as shown in FIG. 1. Pedestal 30 preferably comprises two sections 44, 44a subsequently joined, as by welds, along separation joint 46 (FIG. 6), after assembly of the derrick with section 44. Bearings 48 may be provided for rotatably mounting the derrick stem 28a, and sleeve 49 and nuts 50 may be provided for locking stem 28a in place against axial movement with respect to pedestal 30. Lower pedestal section 44a is adapted, at its upper end, to mount upper section 44 thereon in partially telescoped relation, as shown, and at its lower end is adapted for attachment as by means of bolts 52, to the horizontal base frame of the vehicle. Pedestal section 44 may be provided with a strut 53 (FIG. 1) for strengthening the pedestal.

Rotatably mounted in lower pedestal section 44a and as by means of bearing structure 54, is a lower stem assembly 56 coupled to upper stem 28a as by means of lugs 58 (FIGS. 6 and on the upper end of stem 56 and received in slots 58a (FIG. 2) adjacent the bottom extremity of stem 28a. Lower stem 56 is provided with drum 60 detachably connected thereto as at 61 and thus rotatable therewith about a generally vertical axis, and about bearing structure 54. Bearing structure 54 may be detachably connected to the vehicle base frame by ring 61a (FIG. 6). Drum 60 may be provided with three sections, 60a, 60b and 600 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Projecting outwardly or laterally from the stationary mast 30 is a housing 62 which can be formed as an inte gral part of the rear end of the truck, or which may be attached to existing trucks by extending support structure 64 on the vehicle chassis. The housing 62 embodies therein a pair of reciprocal, preferably single acting fluid powered motor units 65, 66 which may be secured as at 67 to the housing floor. One (66) of the motor units comprises a pair of vertically disposed pulleys 68, 68a rotatably mounted adjacent the outer end of the associated piston rod, while the other motor unit (65) comprises a single rotatable pulley 70, mounted as by means of U-shaped bracket structure 70a on the outer end of its associated piston rod. Wear strips or slides 72, 72a are disposed beneath the respective pulleys for facilitating reciprocal movement of themotor units 65, 66. Chain or flexible means 74, 74a are looped about the respective pulleys 68, 68a, and 70, and extend lengthwise of hous- 62 to be looped about the respective drum section 60a, 60b and 600, and are attached thereto as at 76 (FIG. 8). The other end of each chain 74, 74a is attached as at 77 to the housing 62. It will be seen therefore that extension of one of the motor units 65 or 66 causes retraction of the other, as controlled by suitable valve mechanism (i.e. 78, FIG. 1) on the vehicle, and will cause rotation of drum 60 and thus rotation of tubular mast or stem structure 56, 28a about a generally vertical axis, and thus rotation of the derrick boom in a generally horizontal plane. Guides or supports 80 may be provided on the housing 62 in conjunction with cam blocks 82 (FIG. 8) for supporting and guiding the drum actuating chains 74, 74a. The generally loose lug and slot connection between stem sections 28:: and 56, and between the latter and drum 60, provides for flexure of pedestal 30 with respect to housing 62 without structural failure of the rotatable drum and stem construction.

An important aspect of the present structural arrangement is that the pedestal and the actuating means therefor, can be mounted as a unit on a vehicle chassis, and on existing vehicles with minimum reconstruction of the vehicle. It will be seen that reciprocal movement of the motor units will cause a full 360 rotation of the stern members 56, 28a, and thus rotation of the derrick through a full 360, and with a relatively small stroke for the motor units. It will also be noted that stem sections 54, 56 and 28a provide a hollow passageway open at both ends for convenient extension therethrough of fluid transmission lines for carrying pressurized fluid to and from the fluid motor of the earth borer, or for passage t-herethrough of a winch cable which may extend along the boom and be adapted for winding coaction with a conventional winch mechanism mounted on the vehicle body.

The terms and expressions which have been used are used as terms of description and not ,of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of any of the features shown, or described, or portions thereof, and it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

We claim:

1. A derrick assembly for mounting on a vehicle comprising, bearing means adapted for mounting on the floor of a vehicle, a lower hollow stem section rotatably mounted on said bearing means, an upper hollow stem section flexibly secured to said lower stem section to provide for predetermined movement therebetween, a superstructure frame secured to said upper stem section, a boom pivotally mounted on said superstructure, annular means adjacent the bottom of said lower stem section, flexible means operably connected to said annular means, a pair of reciprocal fluid powered motor units mounted generally horizontally adjacent said annular means and operably connected to said flexible means, whereby said flexible means rotate said stem means upon actuation of said fluid power motor units, and a stationary hollow pedestal adapted to be mounted on said vehicle above said annular means and being disposed in spaced relationship about the remainder of said stem section.

2. A derrick assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said stem means has a drum attached thereto for rotation with the stem means about its vertical axis, said flexible means being secured to said drum, and means on said drum for guiding said flexible means thereon during rotation of said drum and winding of said flexible means thereon.

3. A derrick assembly in accordance with claim 1 including a housing enclosing said motor units therein, said stem means extending into said hosuing, and means in said housing for guiding said flexible means therein during actuation of said motor units.

4. A derrick assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said motor units comprises a piston rod having pulley means rotatably mounted on the piston rod adjacent the distal end thereof, said flexible means being looped about the respective pulley means and anchored to said housing, and guide track means in said housing coacting with said pulley means for supporting the latter during actuation of the respective motor units.

5. A derrick assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said motor units are disposed substantially parallel to each other.

6. A derrick assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said derrick is mounted on a vehicle having a front cab portion and a rear semi-open van portion having an open top and upstanding side portions, said assembly being mounted on said floor, said superstructure projecting above the vertical height of said cab and said sides, whereby said boom may be rotated 360.

7. A derrick assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein said pedestal is mounted laterally of the longitudinal central axis of the vehicle and adjacent the rear end thereof.

8. A derrick assembly in accordance with claim 1, including a reciprocal fluid powered motor unit pivotally connected at one end to said superstructure and pivotally connected at its other end to said boom for swinging the boom in a generally vertical plane, said motor unit being offset laterally from the boom, a bar means parallel to said motor unit and offset laterally outwardly therefrom, said bar means being pivotally attached at one end to said boom adjacent said one end of said motor unit and pivotally attached at its other end to said boom adjacent said other end of said motor unit.

9. A derrick assembly in accordance with claim 1, including bearing and locking means disposed between said upper v stem section and said pedestal means, whereby axial movement of the stem relative to the pedestal is restricted while the stem rotates relative to the pedestal.

10. A derrick assembly in accordance with claim 1, 15

wherein one of said motor units has a single pulley means mounted thereon and the other of said motor units has a double pulley means mounted thereon.

11. A derrick assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said pedestal is of two-piece construction having an upper and lower portion fixedly secured together for rotation as a unit.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 667,312 2/ 1901 Hetlesaeter 212---67 2,790,568 4/1957 Mandt 214132 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,116,360 1/1956 France.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DERRICK ASSEMBLY FOR MOUNTING ON A VEHICLE COMPRISING, BEARING MEANS ADAPTED FOR MOUNTING ON THE FLOOR OF A VEHICLE, A LOWER HOLLOW STEM SECTION ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BEARING MEANS, AN UPPER HOLLOW STEM SECTION FLEXIBLY SECURED TO SAID LOWER STEM SECTION TO PROVIDE FOR PREDETERMINED MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN, A SUPERSTRUCTURE FRAME SECURED TO SAID UPPER STEM SECTION, A BOOM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPERSTRUCTURE, ANNULAR MEANS ADJACENT THE BOTTOM OF SAID LOWER STEM SECTION, FLEXIBLE MEANS OPERABLY CONNECTED TO SAID ANNULAR MEANS, A PAIR OF RECIPROCAL FLUID POWERED MOTOR UNITS MOUNTED GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY ADJACENT SAID ANNULAR MEANS AND OPERABLY CONNECTED TO SAID FLEXIBLE MEANS, WHEREBY SAID FLEXIBLE MEANS ROTATE SAID STEM MEANS UPON ACTUATION OF SAID FLUID POWER MOTOR UNITS, AND A STATIONARY HOLLOW PEDESTAL ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON SAID VEHICLE ABOVE SAID ANNULAR MEANS AND BEING DISPOSED IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP ABOUT THE REMAINDER OF SAID STEM SECTION. 